New England Patriots over San Diego Chargers: Wow, now that's a shocker! I said very early on that I wouldn't pick against the Pats until they eventually lost, so thus I shall pick them again this week as they now stand at 17-0. The Chargers are looking to channel the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of 2002 who changed coaches and got over the hump. They're probably the 2nd hottest team in the NFL to the team they're facing, having won eight in a row themselves, turning their season around. The Chargers are a bit beat up, yet are a very physical team (+ 24 in turnover ratio) more than capable of keeping up with the Pats aggressive play. Hope the Pats weren't hoping for and anticipating the Colts because the Bolts will have a chip on their shoulders. However the Pats have the Brady magic, much like the Yankees have the Jeter magic, perhaps moreso because Jeter can't bat as many times as Brady can take snaps.
NFC Championship Game: Right here on FOX!
New York Giants over Green Bay Packers: I have ridden my Giants, (not to be confused with that awful Billy Crystal movie My Giant) thus far and have looked good as a result. They are perhaps channeling the road warrior Pittsburgh Steelers of a couple of years ago with an NFL record nine straight road wins or perhaps with the retirement of Tiki Barber like the Indianapolis Colts who last year lost Edgerrin James to the Arizona Cardinals and went on to win the Super Bowl. More impressive than the maturity of QB Eli Manning though may be the grit and determination of their defense. That defense used to talk big like they were the '86 Giants of L.T., Carson, Banks and Pepper Johnson, but came up small in big spots, now they just shut up and play. On the Packers side Brett Favre will have to win it for them, what a suprise. But he can't force it and try to do too much or he'll get into trouble, especially if the Giants take away Ryan Grant. Yes Lambeau Field is a huge homefield advantage, but if the Atlanta Falcons can win a playoff game there I guess nothing is out of the realm of possibilities. Both teams actually lucked out in a sense with the Pack not having to go to Dallas and the Gmen not having to go to Seattle. The Packers also have a far superior and healthier WR corps than Dallas or Tampa at the moment and the Giants thin secondary is beat up. The Green Bay defense doesn't quite pop out at anyone as much but they are solid at basically every spot, whereas the Giants are stronger up front and the Packers especially excel in the secondary. Ultimately I expect the Giants to gut it out, otherwise I'll be rooting for Favre's Packers against the other Bill's Patriots just like I did so many years ago during Super Bowl XXXI.
NFL Divisional Playoff Picks: (Last week 3-1, overall season 162-97)
Packers over Seahawks: Favre and the Packers at home in January, very hard to pick against.
Patriots over Jaguars: Again how can one pick against the Pats until they finally do lose?
Colts over Chargers: The only reason the Chargers didn't lose last week is because they played the Titans.
Giants over Cowboys: I really hate it when the Giants get hyped up because usually they buy into it and believe it rather than just going out and playing hard. However there have been an awful lot of playoff distractions and nobody makes mentions of the playoff struggles of Tony Romo and Wade Phillips, but they're there.
It wasn't Vince Young or Kerry Collins who led the Titans into the playoffs. It was Jim Sorgi and he plays for the Colts! So much for that whole integrity thing that pundits were raving about with the NFL after the Giants in a meaningless game actually showed up and challenged the Patriots with history on the line. And those Patriots who could've put it on cruise control, but wanted this 16-0 record as a signature stamp on their ever expanding dyNEsty.
The Colts and to a lesser extent the Cowboys however? Nah, couldn't be bothered, couldn't lift a finger when it came to upholding the integrity of the league. Now you want to tell me that Cleveland and Minnesota should've taken care of business last week, fair enough. But I can't stand this holier than art thou praise these NFL teams get for playing the full 17 weeks to the max, when it is the only sport where a team can effectively end a game just by taking a knee and sitting on it for the last two minutes or so!
Yes there were some legit injuries such as Marvin Harrison and T.O. and the Redskins probably could've beaten the Cowboys straight up whereas the Titans who could barely get by the Jets, would've been creamed by the Colts.
From the Cowboys perspective, when you're down 27-3 in the 4th quarter and have 4th and goal, at least act like you're trying and go for it! I mean Denver showed up in a meaningless game to play hard and beat Minnesota, why not Dallas? And mind you I was hoping the Redskins as a feel good story would get in after all of the adversity they have faced this season.
I will admit bias in wanting Cleveland to make the playoffs because at least they have some interesting offensive weapons, whereas Tennessee is just a dreck of a team. The Colts though owed something to Romeo Crennel and the Browns, they owed them to take a shot. I mean come on Tony Dungy, help a brother out will ya!
But seriously I wonder if the Colts laying down had something to do with Crennel being a former defensive coordinator for the rival Patriots, the fact that they were playing nice for their AFC South division brethern Titans or that they just do this every single year in week 17. And the answer is that the Colts do this every single year week 17. The Colts even spurned their own opportunity to go 16-0 a few years back and like the Eagles of recent years they have gotten burned in taking this approach. Sure they were calling time-outs late in the 4th quarter to stop the clock, to give the impression that they were at least trying. That is until they marched Jim Sorgi right back out there. How I ask does Jim Sorgi still have a job in the NFL, seriously?
I mean I get it from an Indy and Dallas perspective, they've locked everything up and if they have players who are seriously injured then like any other game obviously they're going to sit. However if the Giants and Pats can play hard in a meaningless game for the integrity of the sport, so can you.
And if I'm the Browns I say to the Colts, Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, the next time we play you, playing Jim Sorgi won't be a choice, but a necessity!
The competitor in me wants to see the New York Giants take a crack at the undefeated New England Patriots. Yet when using sound logic, that makes about as much sense as the Giants actually beating the Patriots. Both teams know where they're going from this point on, the Pats back to Foxboro until they go to Arizona and the Giants to Tampa where they've split Super Bowls.
Proponents of the Giants actually showing up in this game will argue that the Giants need to stay fresh and gain some momentum so that if they somehow do knock off the Pats, there will be some confidence boosting carry-over effect that will propell the Giants on a legendary playoff run. Others will also argue that the Giants aren't going deep into the playoffs anyhow and that this in effect is their "Super Bowl."
Another point is that if the Giants play and beat the Pats, no matter what they do from here on out, 10, 20, 25 years from now they'll be remembered as the team that beat the 15-0 Pats and ruined the perfect season. But I'll tell you what, I remember the 1998 Giants who upset the 13-0 John Elway Denver Broncos at Giants Stadium when Kent Graham hooked up with Amani Toomer for the winning score, and the only memorable thing about that team is that they did it and that they were a team that completely underachieved that season and did nothing. Actually looking back that win for that Giants team might have meant more because unlike that Giants team, this Giants team still has more to play for, namely the playoffs. Besides how really historical are those Giants along with the Chad Johnson Bengals who upset the Chiefs about five years back or the Marino Dolphins who upset the '85 Bears?
The only fans that have a right to complain and be sour Week 17 are followers of the Vikings, Saints and Browns. Because with the Redskins and Titans having destiny in their own hands and playing the Cowboys and Colts respectively, those two latter teams have no more of an obligation to show up and play hard than the Giants do.
Granted they are 7-1 on the road, but for a team that would have to play three straight road games (assuming the Redskins/6th seed doesn't make it to the NFC Conference Championship Game) just to get to Arizona for the Super Bowl, this is in effect their bye week and they've earned it just as much as the Cowboys and Colts.
There's simply no need for anyone on the O-Line to go out and twist a knee, or Eli Manning to re-aggrivate his shoulder or Brandon Jacobs to tear up his hamstring or Plaxico Burress to roll over his ankle or an already thin-depth defense to lose anymore anchors. You don't play scared or you get injured, therefore there's no reason to play these guys outside of a couple of series if at all in what amounts to a meaningless game. The last two seasons in Oakland and Washington, the Giants had to go out and grind it to win the division and last year to just make the playoffs. This season they have the luxury of having clinched and knowing who and where they'll play in the playoffs.
Some will say that two back to back losses to New England and Tampa Bay will be devastating and depressing and with the Giants ending a third straight season of being bumped out in the first round won't distinguish them from anyone and that "what if" syndrome of potentially beating the Pats and making "history," will set in.
Lets get one thing perfectly straight though, the Pats are the only team playing for history here folks. They are the only one's with that streak on the line and the only one's outside of the casual football fan and perhaps the '72 Dolphins that should care about it. This is not the Giants fight, they just so happen to be opponent # 16 on the Pats schedule. Besides if the Giants actually show up and play there's no guarantee they'll beat them and even if they do and some guys get knocked out for the season, the regret and "what if" fallout from a first round playoff loss in Tampa will be even more historically painful for the Giants and Giants fans.
Finally, if you're the Giants and you do pull off some kind of miraculous playoff run to meet the Pats in Arizona for the Super Bowl, why show off all of your cards now?
Indianapolis Colts: Is it just me or did last year’s Colts practically mirror that of the champion Steelers the year before them? Both had been forever on the cusp of a title, especially their head coaches. Both had similarly faltered late in the season somewhat and were written off by most pundits and experts. However the Colts like the Steelers got the job done finally and brought home their first Super Bowl to Indianapolis with their victory over the Chicago Bears.
The Colts much like the Steve Young San Francisco 49ers of the 1990’s got the #### off their back against Troy Aikman’s Dallas Cowboys, Peyton Manning was finally able to knock off the nemesis Tom Brady New England Patriots. Yes they’ve lost a lot on defense with the defections of Nick Harper, Cato June and Mike Doss, defense was never the name of their game to begin with. And with the #### off his back and his mind at ease, Lord knows what Peyton Manning will do for an encore?
Final Verdict: With Tony Dungy at the helm, Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne all still at the top of their game, the Colts are still the most consistent horse in the stable when it comes to stability on what is truly the greatest show of excellence on turf. Does anyone doubt, like the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East for years with Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid and the New England Patriots with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick who have for year’s taken their respective divisions seemingly every season that the Indianapolis Colts of Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy won’t win the AFC South once again? Granted the AFC is so tough it’s hard to think they’ll repeat, but they’ve been there before and now they know what it takes to get over the hump. Predicted Final Record: (11-5).
Houston Texans: The Houston Texans started off in the NFL where the Houston Oilers left off. Since they’ve come into the league in 2002, the only other AFC team to not qualify for the playoffs is the Buffalo Bills. The team which has tried desperately to forge an identity, finally gets a new one in QB Matt Schaub.
Whether Schaub can get the ball to anyone with this offensive line is another story. Houston would’ve greatly benefited last year from taking home state hero Vince Young or Reggie Bush (come on a Bush in Texas, how’d they miss that one?). Though WR Andre Johnson did reel in 103 catches and TE Owen Daniels did emerge to catch five TD passes.
Final Verdict: This Houston team looks better on paper than any since its inception. They have some playmakers on defense in DeMeco Ryans who was the NFL defensive rookie of the year leading the team with 156 tackles, Morlon Greenwood and newly acquired Shawn Barber all make for a solid linebacker corps. The growth of their defense will also depend on the maturity of CB Dunta Robinson and DE Mario Williams. Ultimately the Texans are pining their success on Schaub and if everything breaks right they could find themselves in the hunt. Predicted Final Record: (8-8).
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags have to be one of the bigger “lures” in the NFL. Statistically everything seemingly adds up on both sides of the ball. However, inevitably it seems their season always comes down to key injuries at key positions, mainly RB Fred Taylor. When healthy, he has great raw talent and ability, again though that’s when healthy.
The Jags offensive line obviously proved they could move the ball, with the team accumulating over 2,541 rushing yards, which ranked third in the NFL and set a Jacksonville franchise record for a season. Most of that was turned in by Taylor and his 1,146 yards on the ground and by rookie RB Maurice Jones-Drew who ran for over 941 yards, 13 TD’s and was the NFL’s leading rookie scorer with 16 TD’s overall. Both Taylor and Jones-Drew averaged over five yards per carry and combined to rush for 18 TD’s.
Their total defense ranked only second to Baltimore in the NFL. They are virtually impossible to score on at home, allowing at league low 88 total points. Rashean Mathis has been the ultimate ball-hawk and playmaker for Jacksonville with eight interceptions and twelve pass deflections to go with 56 solo tackles. The drafting of free safety Reggie Nelson off of the Florida Gators National Championship team will only seek to solidify their already solid defensive corps. Fellow Florida alums LB Mike Peterson and DE Bobby McCray will look to keep the defense at the top.
Final Verdict: They’ve got the right formula to make a playoff run, a solid one-two punch of a rushing attack and a top notch defense. However they must stay healthy and get consistency at the QB spot. Improving upon a 2-6 road record and not getting swept by the Houston Texans would certainly help their cause in making it back to the playoffs. Final Predicted Record: (7-9).
Tennessee Titans: Tell me who’s on the cover of Madden Football and I’ll tell you who’s going to have a bad season, maybe even a lost season. Hopefully for Vince Young doesn’t succumb to the same fate which has afflicted others over the years. Though they dug themselves out of an early hole last year, things don’t get any easier in the early going this year, when the Titans play their first three against Jacksonville, Indianapolis and New Orleans.
Though Vince Young was essentially a one man band last season, I can’t say I’m all that much more enamored with the Titans offense this season. The Titans are well coached and do scout well and do more with less than virtually any other team in the league. In fact statistically nothing really jumps out at you when looking at this team and its overall rankings.
Final Verdict: As mentioned above, Tennessee has a chance right off the bat to make a statement within the division that last year’s late season run wasn’t a fluke. The Titans are still a young team and it will be interesting to see how they deal with having expectations put on them. That progress will ultimately depend on the progression of number ten. Final Predicted Record: (6-10).
A reminder to all NFL fans, join me your host Mike Gwizdala for the start of my radio program called NFL Necessary Roughness which premires Wednesday September 5, 2007 at 1:00PM on the Blog Talk Radio Network! It's a day before kickoff and I'll be sure to give you the NFL fan all the picks and predictions while previewing the upcoming 2007 NFL season! I'll be breaking down each division and all the week one games and taking your phone calls toll free at 1-646-716-8205 on the Blog Talk Radio Network! So make sure to be there and tell a friend and be on the look out for my picks and predictions on this very blog at FoxSports.com! Here's a link to where you want to be Wednesday! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mikegwizdalagamedayr eport
There I said it, as if you didn't know it, yes indeed the NFL pre-season is stupid and boring. So much so that only compulsive gamblers and some four letter network would disagree. Look I get it, football is back and you should be excited but please it's about as invigorating as the Pro Bowl and maybe even less.
These games get on national TV for crying out loud? The starting offenses and defenses play for a few series, one might get a chance to see a few diamonds in the rough in the 2nd quarter but after that forget it. Why even bother with a 2nd half, it's completely useless, I mean at that point are any of those guys even seriously fighting for jobs? Well of course they are... in Canada! Plus late in such games you'd think with such porous defenses there'd be a little more wide open play or some more offense right? Wrong, the later it gets the sloppier it gets and thus the emptier the stadium gets.
Another completely stupid thing with pre-season football is late in the game with one team up big with the ball. My question is why are you milking the clock down? Running the ball and taking a knee in pre-season gets you nothing! Think you might want to try out some new plays or get some guys a few more reps to see what they have? Nah, gotta practice kneeling that damn ball don't we? To quote Homer Simpson, "Boring!"
Seriously, we don't put this much hype and stock into spring training baseball or pre-season NBA or NHL so why the NFL, why is it any different? Don't get me wrong, I love the NFL, it's just that until the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts get things started off for real, the only meaningful NFL games of interest to you should be on Madden '08 on the game console of your choosing.
My name is Mike Gwizdala and I live in Albany, N.Y. The Capitol of the Empire State. I'm probably the biggest most knowledgeable , opinionated sports fan I know. First and foremost I'm an avid, die-hard New York Yankees fan. For those of you who don't know Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte amongst others all played their Double-A ball in Albany.
